South Cotabato starts search for Outstanding Model Family

KORONADAL CITY -- The search is on for Outstanding Model Family in South Cotabato.A committee has been conducting evaluation at the barangay level in Polomolok, Tupi, Tampakan, Tantangan, T'boli, Lake Sebu, Banga, Surallah, Norala, Sto Nino and Koronadal City.The evaluation has commenced after the South Cotabato provincial board passed an ordinance for the search and appropriating P300,000 funds thereof, said Zenaida Duron,provincialpopulation officer.Successful families in all towns will compete in the provincial level. Evaluation at the provincial level will be next month and awarding in November.A P20,000 cash prize await the Outstanding Model Family while the first runner up and second runner-upstand to receive P15,000 and P10,000, respetively. A third runner winner will receive P5,000 cash, according to Duron.In August this year, the South Cotabato provincial board approved an ordinanceentitled Institutionalizing the Annual Search for the Most Outstanding Model Family in the province.”It wasauthored Board Member Grace Subere-Albios, chairperson, committee on women and family relations, andaims to recognize the deserving model families in the province for their achievement in promoting family welfare and development. The giving of special awards will also encourage families to take active roles in population development, Albios said.Provincial Population Officer Zenaida Duron said, since the inception of the annual search” in 1994, the province already produced more than 200 model families in the province.The ordinance provides that the selection process must start from the barangay level and the municipal level. Winners will become the official entry for the provincial level search.The basic qualification of the model family nominees includeand the parents should be legally married, not more than five children including legally adopted children, children of school age should be in school, except those with congenital defects and family should be residing permanently in the locality of not less than five years no member of the family has been convicted of criminal or administrative case at the time of evaluation and family must have a stable source of income.Criteria for the selection include quality of relationship between and among husband, wife and children, 25 percent quality of persons (20 percent) ability to manage resources (25 percent) involvement in community development activities (20 percent) and quality of condition at home (10 percent).